A
heavily silvered bronze fibula. This item is either solid silver or
has a near original silvering "wash" still covering it. The fibula
is or high quality with an intricate design. The head of the fibula
which is missing the spring and pin, has a smooth slope to it with raised
ridges that run up to the main focus of the piece.

A
decorative and fierce looking Dragon head. This ornate head which is
built directly into the fibula, makes the Dragon look like it is
swallowing the remainder of the item. Two eyes, open mouth with
teeth, nostrils on a long snout and ears make up the features of the
Dragon head.

The design continues further with a raised thick ridge that runs around
the neck of the Fibula. Two smaller ridges balance it out on either
side. A long raised wavy line then continues on the top of fibula,
ending at a rounded end piece. A long smooth opening exists, where
it would have housed the pin for the fibula.

The beast heads on the dragon buckles sometimes look like dragons,
sometimes like panthers (with apparent whiskers), sometimes like snakes
and sometimes like wolves. The origin of
the buckles may well be found in the draco standard of the late Roman
army. This was a standard of Thracian origin adopted into the Roman army,
originally for cavalry, but by the 4th century for infantry as well.Like the heads of the dragon buckles, the head of the draco seems
to vary in its form, sometimes looking more serpentine, sometimes more
canine. And equally, like the pattern on the dragon buckle loops, the
patterns on the draco’s tail seems to change.(1)

The fibula was clearly something that was consistent throughout the Roman
empire for Centuries. Style varied and can dictate the time period
when the item was made, however is is clear that a wide range of design
and quality existed. An ornate example such as this would have
distinguished one soldier from another.